GRUFF is a handmade, paper short film I've been designing, building, puppeteering, and editing across almost three years. It's a story about the people you know love you, but aren’t exactly verbal about it. It’s how I've processed my dad’s passing, and learned how to love people who don't love exactly like me.

I believe we all have individuals in our lives, related or not, that pride themselves as the "strong silent types". Through this short film, I hope all of us can learn to empathize, connect, and more deeply love the those who have so much more to say than we think, and just need us to listen.

I hope you enjoy "GRUFF".

Written, Directed, & Animated by
JULIAN CURI

Starring
JOEY MARIE URBINA as Hazel
AVILA KAST as Bo
CHARLES CARPENTER as Abuelo

With
BRADFORD LOOMIS as the Narrator
VINCE MELAMED as El Mayor/El Pistolero
KRISTIN CURI as Bonita
KAISER JOHNSON as Farmer Jim
KEELEY JOHNSON as Farmer Jane

Produced by
JULIAN CURI, KEELEY BRIGHT, KAISER JOHNSON, & IVY ISENBERG

Director of Photography, Editor, Production Design, Visual Effects & Puppeteering
JULIAN CURI

Original Score
ROLAND BINGAMAN

Casting Director
IVY ISENBERG

Production Assistant, 1st Assistant Camera
KRISTIN CURI